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The park was created in 1997 by the amalgamation of Genoa, Tantawangalo, Bemboka, Yowaka and Coolangubra National Parks, all of which had been gazetted in 1994. Genoa National Park in turn was the result of the amalgamation of Nalbaugh and Nungatta National Parks, which had been established in 1972 and 1973 respectively.[2]

Until 1968, much of the inland southeastern corner of New South Wales was rugged forest terrain known as the Wallagaraugh Wilderness, and was vacant crown land. At the time, a scientific committee appointed by the New South Wales state government recommended the area of around 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) be protected as a national park, however the Japanese company Harris-Daishowa sought to log the area for woodchips, and most of the land was categorised as state forest, with only Nalbaugh and Nungatta National Parks declared in what is now South East Forests National Park. Nearby, Mount Imlay and Ben Boyd National Park were gazetted.[3]

Logging began in October 1969,[4] and continued for 25 years despite increasing opposition.[3] The Unsworth Labor State government had proposed an 80,000-hectare (200,000-acre) park as a reelection promise in the 1988 state election, but was not reelected. Later, under the Fahey government,[3] the Genoa, Tantawangalo, Bemboka Yowaka and Coolangubra national parks came into existence in 1994.[2]

The region is known for its variety of eucalypt species,[3] and wet sclerophyll (eucalypt) forests cover 42% of the park.[6] Temperate rainforest is found in sheltered areas, and subalpine bogs at high elevations.[6]